Banks can use cash from legal pot dealers

Usa, cronista della Cnn sperimenta su se stessa il ‘cannabis tour’

Usa, cronista della Cnn sperimenta su se stessa il ‘cannabis tour’

CNN Poll: Support for legal marijuana soaring

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CNN Political Unit

Washington (CNN) - In a major turnaround from past decades, a majority of Americans support legalizing marijuana, according to a new poll.

The CNN/ORC International survey released Monday also indicated that the number of people who say smoking pot is morally wrong has plunged.

Fifty-five percent of those questioned nationally said marijuana should be made legal, with 44% disagreeing.

The CNN/ORC findings are similar to a Gallup poll conducted in October.

According to the CNN poll and numbers from General Social Survey polling, support for legalizing marijuana has steadily soared over the past quarter century - from 16% in 1987 to 26% in 1996, 34% in 2002, and 43% two years ago.

The survey found interesting divides on the issue.

"There are big differences on age, region, party ID, and gender, with senior citizens, Republicans, and Southerners the only major demographic groups who still oppose the legal use of pot," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

Two-thirds of those 18 to 34 said marijuana should be legal, with 64% of those 34 to 49 in agreement.

Half of those 50 to 64 believe marijuana should be legal, but that number dropped to 39% for those age 65 and older.

Support stood at 60% in the Northeast, 58% in the West, 57% in the Midwest, but just 48% in the South. Sixty-two percent of Democrats and 59% of Independents, but just 36% of Republicans, backed legalizing marijuana. Fifty-nine percent of men but just 51% of women supported making pot legal.

Attitudes have dramatically changed

Why has support for legalizing marijuana tripled since the 1970s and 1980s?

"Attitudes toward the effects of marijuana and whether it is morally wrong to smoke pot have changed dramatically over time," said Holland. "That also means that marijuana use is just not all that important to Americans any longer."

In 1972, about a year after President Richard Nixon declared drugs "public enemy Number One," 65% said the use of marijuana was a very serious problem for the United States. Now that is down to 19%.

The number who said marijuana is a gateway drug (47%), is down 23 points since 1972. The number who said marijuana is addictive (50%), is down 10 points. And the number who said marijuana is physically harmful (43%) is down 23 points.

"Clearly there are some reservations about marijuana, but not the widespread fear that existed during the original War on Drugs in the 1970s," added Holland.

The biggest change indicated by the poll reflected the number of people who said smoking pot is morally wrong. In 1987, 70% said it was, making it a sin in the minds of more Americans than abortion or pornography.

Now, that number has been halved - just 35% today said smoking marijuana is morally wrong.

Widespread agreement that it is not morally wrong may be one of the bigger drivers of the pro-legalization movement.

The CNN poll was conducted by ORC International, from January 3-5, with 1,010 adults nationwide questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report

CNN Poll: Support for legal marijuana soaring

CNN’s “Weed” documentary focuses on Colorado

Newest government job: Expert pothead

By Jose Pagliery @CNNMoney February 1, 2013: 9:59 PM ET

It's a pot-lover's dream. Washington State is looking for a marijuana consultant to help craft its now-legal industry.

But are you qualified? The job requirements are uniquely challenging: At least five years "working experience" doing everything that would land you in federal prison.

Washington legalized marijuana for recreational use during the November elections, and the state's Liquor Control Board detailed the new government contract job in a recent 17-page solicitation.
In its request for proposal, Washington said it wants expertise on how marijuana is "grown, cultivated harvested, cured and processed," along with "experience with cannabis testing" and "establishing quality standards."
The best candidate also needs to figure out how to properly regulate the business -- and forecast how much marijuana each region of the state is going to demand.
"Ideally, we would like one person who has all those characteristics," said board spokesman Mikhail Carpenter.
Carpenter said a criminal record won't be "an immediate disqualifier."
The board is open to the idea of hiring an entire team, though. By the state's standards, a dream team might include a seasoned pot smoker, a chemist, a lawyer and a dealer with a college degree in Statistics.
The contract consulting work pays up to $100,000 -- but candidates can compete by offering to do it for less. The gig starts in March, and state officials need the rules created by June. Plus, they'll need advice for another year or two.
Related: Don't expect a marijuana boom
Because it's contract work, a simple job application won't do. Proposals must include several two-page essays proving proficiency in all the skills listed above.
With those difficulties in mind, CNNMoney has run the state's proposal by Billy Corben, the filmmaker behind drug documentaries "Cocaine Cowboys" and "Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja."
Corben has interviewed some of the biggest drug smugglers in American history. Here's his take on what kind of candidate Washington needs.

Requirement 1: Know how weed is grown, harvested, processed and infused into food.

"They wouldn't look for a marijuana smuggler. So much of it is cultivated in grow houses, like they do here in Miami, or in legitimate farms out West.
"The state could start in Colorado or California and find one of the higher-end entrepreneurs who have yet to be cracked down on by the federal government.
"Everybody that they're looking for is, by definition, breaking federal law. So, there's obviously a level of forgiveness that's essential. They're all federal criminals, theoretically. Even in the states where it's legal.
"If you go in for a job interview and you're exceptionally qualified but you're a felon or convicted of a marijuana misdemeanor, they will have to chuckle that off."

Requirement 2: Experience testing marijuana quality.

"You're talking about an admitted drug user. I'd think the president, when he was smoking, was smoking the good s****. He knows the difference. Hell, any of the last three presidents -- or any of the founding fathers, but they're not available right now."

Requirement 3: Knowing how much weed is needed, and where.

"That's like saying who needs running water. There's such a cross-section of people. It doesn't demographically appeal to any age, race or gender. Are you a Glaucoma sufferer? Cancer patient? Teenager? College student?"

Requirement 4: Establishing industry regulations

" You'd need a lawyer. Credit to Washington state for wanting to do this right."

Newest government job: Expert pothead

CNN on the debate to legalize marijuana cultivation in Italy